The Pensacola News Journal is conducting a poll to select the top high school sports team from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties for the 2025-26 season. Seventeen teams are nominated based on their impressive seasons, including several state champions and finalists. The voting process will gradually narrow the nominees from 17 to a final two, allowing readers to influence the decision on the best team. Voting for the initial round closes at 11 a.m. on Saturday, with the top eight teams moving forward to the next stages of the contest.

By the Numbers
  • 17 teams nominated for the top high school sports team.
  • Voting ends at 11 a.m. Saturday.
State of Play
  • Teams include both state champions and those with notable postseason successes.
  • The competition format progresses from 17 teams to 8, then 4, then 2.
What's Next

As voting progresses, the top eight teams will be announced, leading to further rounds of reader engagement. This structure not only determines the best team but also highlights community support for local athletics.

Bottom Line

This initiative fosters local pride and recognition for high school sports, allowing fans to participate in honoring remarkable achievements of student-athletes in the Pensacola area.